An Irish Guineas weekend that sees the reappearance of Aidan O’Brien’s AIR FORCE BLUE, the one-time ante-post fav for last month’s Newmarket equivalent. He ran a shocker that day but was about the only Ballydoyle runner not to fire on the big stage this year.
If you ignore that run, he looks a fair price on Saturday as the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner Gallileo Gold lines up against him. Ballydoyle had the 1-2-3 in the 1000 Guineas and they can continue the dominance on home soil at the Curragh this weekend.
Jack the Laird, Wolverhampton, 4.55pm
This lightly-raced improver lost out on the bob at Wolverhampton last time and runs over the 5f minimum for the first time this evening. The blinkers are on, he’s drawn on the paint in stall one against older handicappers who hold no secrets from anyone and can get his head in front.
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Cotai Glory, Haydock, 7.30pm
Needed his return run and wants good or faster ground to show his best. He can force the pace but might be even better with a lead (Take Cover should give him a tow) and this is just a stepping stone up to Group One Co. in time.
The Charlie Hills yard is full of sprinting talent and he’s reportedly the fastest of the bunch! He wasn’t beaten far in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp as a three-year-old and I’m nearly tempted to back him for Royal Ascot now before he runs.
Landing Night, Catterick, 7.40pm
He’s been given a nice sharpener at Thirsk just six days ago and connections don’t wait for the 2lb drop in the handicap to kick in as this is a decent £10,000 pot in this grade.
He’s won both his starts here and beat the older sprinters on this track last year as a three-year-old which takes a bit of doing. The danger, First Bombardment, may find this track to sharp after winning at Beverley.
Cartier, Catterick, 8.10pm
It’s a big day for the David Simcock stable as their Derby horse Algometer has gone up 23lbs without leaving his box after his second-place finish to Midterm at Sandown last month and should win the 3.30pm at Goodwood today.
Cartier lines up in a field of well-bred types and takes a step up in trip for her return to action. She was a good winner over a mile as a two-year-old and had a light campaign in the wilderness last year.
She’d be at stud now if there wasn’t more to come and can be the second leg of a possible Simcock treble today.
Four Poets, Catterick, 8.40pm
It looks like the yard have found a weak spot to break his maiden tag. Drawn wide over 7f is not the end of the world as you’ve time to cross over and get clear before the turn into the straight here.
Four Poets has been a slow learner so he’s been running over trips longer than ideal. but the drop back to 7f should suit and he won’t lack from the saddle as I’m sure the jock will be told: ‘this is his Derby’.